#Chapter4

Kenneth walked into the house to see an aggravated son. “Ken?” He paused in the doorway of the small foyer where Ken paced back and forth.

“It’s these damn vampires that Allen has took under his thumb. They worship the bastard and now…”

He stopped and looked up at Kenneth. “Now I can’t get ahold of the situation. The whole nation knows I killed Allen. Yet I feel as if he hadn’t died at all. I hear him in my head. That foul laughter that monotone voice, that damn scent!”

“Son, Allen has placed a mark on you since birth. You won’t be able to get rid of him so easily. His following runs deep. Even when he was with me we kept several newborn’s under our wing. The informant must have been one of them.” Ken nodded as Kenneth placed all the pieces together from his ranting. “I suppose he didn’t tell you anything.”

Ken just growled. “Stupid fuck taunted me the whole time. His name is Fredrick. Ever heard of him?”

Kenneth shook his head. “No. Did he mention anyone named Haze?” Ken looked confused then seeing the coat his father carried in his hands.

“No. Who is that?”

“A half breed I ran into while trying to talk to Nia.”

“Did you find her?” Kenneth turned from his son’s excited voice not ready for the disappointment.

“No. She’s dead.” Ken sighed.

“Shit.”

Kenneth leaned against the wall exhausted and thirsty. As tempted as it was to suck the life out of Haze, Kenneth tried to stick to his moral code. The code his wife would want. Ken took a seat on the stairway with a shaky leg.

“We need that protection for when the baby comes.” Kenneth agreed.

“Maybe we can find another witch to craft it.” Ken wanted to remain optimistic, but the look on Kenneth’s face said it all.

There was no hope. Ken couldn’t save his family. “The half breeds have taken over different portions of the city I’m assuming under one leader.” Kenneth threw the jacket to Ken as he caught it.

“Recognize any scents?” Ken sniffed the jacket barely placing it under his nose.

First the strong cologne and cigarette scents then underneath Haze’s manly musk once he searched deeper his brain kicked into over drive.

“Rosa?” The fresh dandelion smell of the woman Ken had grown up with, who he assumed dead, was the first name that popped into his mind.

“Are you sure she is dead, Ken? I need your absolute certainty you saw her ashes.”

Ken was quiet for a moment. He relived walking into that hell house seeing poor Goslin and Granny’s ashes. Rosa’s casket was empty. She couldn’t have survived a hunter’s surprise attack. His mind convinced him of that, but the scent told him otherwise.

“If she were alive she would’ve found me. She took care of me for the most part. The hunters confirmed also there were no sign of her anywhere on their radar. I’ve also retraced my steps to find her and had no luck.”

Kenneth and Ken head both snapped at the sound of Teya walking out the room.

“Baby you alright?” Ken followed her to the kitchen as she came down the stairs.

“Yeah just thirsty. What baby craves orange juice at three o’clock in the morning?” She gave a small laugh as she poured the juice.

“Any good news?” The men didn’t answer. “I take that as a no.” she replied once met with silence.

“We are getting everything together. Don’t worry.” Ken grabbed her hand to assure her. Teya looked over at Kenneth seeing the worried look on his face.

“Kenneth, are you okay?” she walked over to him seeing his shoulder with a bullet hole.

“Oh this? It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Teya pouted. “Why does that sound so familiar?” She teased, looking over at Ken, then back to Kenneth. “Please be careful. Both of you.”

The men nodded, agreeing. “We are handling all of this. No need to worry.” Kenneth reassured her with a smile.

She wanted to believe them, but something inside all of them knew the worst was coming. The more they found out the more questions they had. Ken looked down on the jacket he was holding with doubts in his mind. Was Rosa alive somewhere? If so why was she hiding from him?

Teya and Markees rode together in silence as he took her to the hospital close by to fill out an application. “I know you miss the old hospital by your apartment, but I think this one will be just as good.” Markees noticed how quiet she was as he glanced over to her. “You didn’t tell him?”

She looked up from her lap then. “Would he notice me being gone all day? He should be sleeping right?”

Markees shrugged. “I asked you a question first.”

She chuckled a little. “No. I couldn’t. He wouldn’t understand. He is so…”

“Overbearing, obnoxious, a bit obsessive. I wouldn’t be driving you around all the time if he wasn’t.” Markees answered for her since the words didn’t escape her.

“He is just a bit overprotective that’s all.”

They pulled up at the small community hospital in hopes Teya would get the day shift and handle some classes online. Her life couldn’t stop because of Ken’s problems is what she told herself. The baby needed a normal life at some point all of the problems, Saline, the new breed army would go away.

“I will only be a minute.” She told Markees before opening the car door. She walked in a bit nervous.

“Hello. Welcome to Hope Hospital. May I help you?” Teya looked at the woman at the front counter with long brassy brunette hair and skin as caramel almost chocolate tone with bright green eyes. She glowed some kind way that Teya couldn’t place her hand on.

“I’m Teya Daniels. I saw the help wanted ad online. I have some experience in front desk assistance.”

The woman held her hand out in front of her to grab Teya’s.

“I’m Sia Jones. Nice to meet you. Fill out this form and I will get the manager.”

She smiled and walked off once she placed the papers down. Teya began to fill the paper out so she didn’t notice the man walk in.

“Miss Daniels?” she looked up to the masculine manager.

His skin was smooth with no hair with a strong jaw and chin. His black hair was cut short with brown eyes that she couldn’t stop herself from starting at.

“Yes.” She responded with a shock that made the manager smile.

“I heard you were looking for a job.”

“Yeah um I can do whatever I went to school for medical billing now I’m talking some online classes due to my…” His eyes charted down to her stomach instantly as if he already knew she was carrying.

“That won’t be a problem. I’m Doctor Dean.” He held out his hand for a handshake. Teya obliged to be polite. Once their hands touched something inside her went off. A warning? Seduction? Her legs went weak as he grabbed her to keep her from falling.

“Are you alright?” She honestly didn’t know. Sia ran over to her to help her.

“Should we call someone?” Teya shook her head.

“I’m sorry I’m fine.” She began to regain some strength as she sat up.

“When can you start?” Dean asked her once she recomposed herself.

Teya looked shocked. “I got the job?”

Dean smiled. “Of course. If you want it.” He replied.

Teya smiled. “I do! Thank You.”

“Teya!” she turned at the frantic voice of Markees. “We have to go now.”

She nodded without question. “Tomorrow.”

She said to Dean before running off with Markees. “Dean why did you hire her so fast?” Dean turned to Sia with a smile.

“She’s special. We need to keep a close eye on that one.” He said watching her drive away.

“Markees what happened?” Teya asked, frantically as he drove through the streets towards the headquarters.

“It’s been under attack. The vampire Fredrick got away.” Teya gasped. “Is it? Was it Salina?”

Markees just groaned. “I fucking knew it!” He screamed hitting the steering wheel.

“That vampire was trouble and Ken did nothing but intimidate him more.”

Teya turned frightened at Markees’s outburst. She remained quiet though until they reached the headquarters. Markees grabbed his gun from his waistband and held on to Teya.

“Stay behind me. Don’t be stupid.”

She nodded understanding as they entered the building cautiously. It was eerily quiet. They walked towards the basement where Fredrick was being kept. Teya gasped at the blood and bodies on the ground surrounding the cell.

“Shit.” Markees placed fingers on some of the men pulse. They weren’t breathing.

“Are they?” Teya gasped, holding her mouth.

She felt as if she was going to puke. A noise came from around the corner.

“Stay here.” He commanded her as he ran off to the noise. Teya walked out the room to gain some air. Just when she was about to catch her breath a hand pushed her against the wall. She grunted from the pain.

“Silly girl.” She opened her eyes to see Salina. She had a glow that she didn’t have before. Her eyes were a different shade Of the blood thirsty red, but now a softer tone of red.

“You don’t look so happy to see me.” Salina teased.

Teya began to become more angry then fearful. She was confident enough to know the medallion would protect her.

“You did this! You changed Ken. You did all of this!” She screamed. Salina smiled, fixing her collar.

“The best thing I ever done. The main question I would ask if I was you is how. How am I walking in the sun? Hm?”

Teya stayed against the wall for support. The question did pop up in her mind. “How are you?”

She turned excitedly. “I’m so glad you asked. It would seem that Ken’s blood has changed me somehow. The blood of a half breed has human qualities it would seem. No wonder Allen wouldn’t kill him.”

Teya wanted to raise her fist and punch her. “That was a couple of months ago. You look a little…” Salina acted as if she would touch her stomach, but Teya slapped her hand away.

“Ken will find you and when he does…”

Salina started laughing at her. “What kill me? It would be against the rules.”

Teya frowned. “Rules what rules?”

Salina turned back to her. Her hands pressed on the side of Teya’s head. She sniffed her hard.

“I can smell him and he will be able to smell me. He knows where to find me. He just won’t. He doesn’t want to betray you, but he knows he belongs with me.” She gave her a kiss on her cheek as she disappeared around the corner moving at lightening speed. Markees walked back up surprised.

“It was her wasn’t it?”

Teya turned with an opened mouth unable to speak. Markees knew the answer. “Shit. Ken will not be happy when he wakes.”

“How did she do this?”

“We need to warn Ken and Kenneth first.” She replied, trying to calm her beating heart.